POEMS IV: sm laleha M. Hashim Biodata SITI ZALEHA M. HASHIM was born in Taiping, Perak. She received a Mass Communications Degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and a Communications Degree from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. She pens in several genres such as poems, short stories, syair, pantuns, lyrics, radio and television dramas, documentaries, and she also produces translated work of short stories and novels. Siti Zaleha received the 2000-2001 Premiere Literary Award for her poem Dongeng Yunani Tersangkut di Bima Sakti which was published in Dewan Sastera. She is often invited and appointed to be on the panel of judges for poetry recitals, pantun competitions, and poetry-, short story- and pantun-writing competitions. Siti Zaleha was a facilitator for television script writing and has also given talks on creative writing. In 2001, she received the Pingat Pekerti Terpilih (P.P.T.) from HM the Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan. She is currently attached to the Multimedia Division in Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Waiting For Butterflies I waited for pretty butterflies to drop by in this garden. Each day was sadder, more hurt. I let the leaves fall, I let the twigs scatter the butterflies I waited for still did not appear. That night I shouted at the full moon, up high in the sky, "Why moon are you beautiful and bright and in your garden a million stars glitter alight!" Incredibly the moon descended slowly on her hands were multi-coloured light "Do not shout young man," said the moon, "This is my secret, the lamp of The Creator, bringing light into each soul space belonging to those who endeavour and believe." With the lamp of The Creator by me I cleaned up my garden, neglected and lonely suddenly froze, touched on seeing thousands of butterflies flying in. 5 December 2006 92
SITI ZALEHA M. HASHIM The Dream Merchant Too high is the price you ask for dream merchant. For one moment which finally will become the past. The spiritual gap between us makes me keep asking. What else will be waiting at the end of the passage of age. Put away those dreams again because we have differed too far apart You no longer have the desire to listen to the chirping of morning creatures to watch the spatter of evening raindrops to contemplate the orange bands of twilight skies. Your dream tower gets taller. You really are shrewd at trading. Hopefully you will recall the first donor of all the happiness received. There are times we will be tested with blessings in disguise. Too high is the price you ask for, merchant. Never ever will I swap a line of dream with the price dignity. April 2006 93
MALAY LITERATURE The Knock Do you not hear that knocking which is so persistent. Why do you not quickly get up to open the door. There are screams of pain of those caught in the mesh of life that is harsh. There are wailings and groanings of those who were hurled onto abyss floors of life that pierce. There are drowned cries of those who are afraid, tossed up in the roll of life's waves which are vicious. Get up from your oh so comfortable sitting. Do you not hear the knocking that is so persistent. Open for a moment sincere doors. They are hoping for only a bit of pity. March 2004 94
SIT I ZALEHA M. HASHIM Lake Dal & I On a shikara they peddle dreams along with roasted sweetcorn grabbing the fragrance of the future lake Dal and I watching the children of Kashmir pedalling vigorously the shikara brimming with spiritual vigour. Kashmir, November 2003 95
MALAY LITERATURE A Giant Tree and An Insect When a black insect from the jungle which was far away, suddenly alighted on a leaf, the giant tree was not worried even though its roots whispered for it to be cautious receiving something unknown, though it happened that once, when a storm raged the giant tree did not fall. The stronger the wind pushed the stronger its defence resisting with every fibre, why now must it fear, what dropped by was just an insect sure to fly again when the time comes. Even before the season changed suddenly one by one its leaves fell one by one twigs and branches fell inches by inches the roots too broke. Slowly the giant tree fell and finally was destroyed only because an insect was allowed to stop by. April 2007 (Translated by Hasnah Ibrahim) 96